Inkstand



y UNITED STATES A -Pl/iTENT GFEICE."

`CHARLES S. KING, OF CROSS FORK, PENNSYLVANIA.

INKSTAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,759, dated February 23, 1897.

Application filed J' une 2 9 18 9 6 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. KING, of

Cross Fork, in the county of Potter and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Inkstand, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object `of the invention is to provide an inkstand which will be non-spillable, non evaporating, and in which the ink will be easy of access, the inkstand comprising practically but two parts, namely, a body anda stopper, the stopper automatically closing the `inkwellimmediately after the pen has been withdrawn from the well, the stopper being pivoted and moving when receiving a pen or like instrument in contact with the ink.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the stopper that it will automatically lock itself when reaching its closed position and whereby the locking device will be automatically released from its keeper the moment that the stopper is properly engaged by the pen. Y

Another object of the invention is to construct the stopper so that it may be readily removed for the purpose of filling the inkwell, replenishing the same, or for the purpose of cleaning the stand.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth,

and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,

in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a vertical section through the improved inkstand and its stopper, the stopper being shown in closed condition, and Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the stopper in a position to admit of the pen gaining access to the ink, both views being taken practically on the line 1 1 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the improved stand.

In carrying out the invention the body A of the inkstand may be of any desired shape or may be of any approved material, and a semicircular or segmental channel 10 is produced in the body of the stand, the ends of which channel are at opposite ends of the cen ter of the stand, and the channel 10 connects with a well11, formed in the body of the stand Serial No. 597,301. (No model.)

channel 1,0. The channel 10 tapers longitudiv nally, being considerably wider at one end than at' the other, and the channel is preferably circular in cross-section and the well 11 is semicircular or segmental in general contour.

At each side of the center of the body of the inkstand7 immediately over the center ofthe channel 10, lugs 13 are produced, having bearings 14 made therein, which bearings are usually undercut, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The stopper 15` of the stand conforms to the shape of the channel 10, but is longer than the said channel, being adapted,when entirely closing the channel, to extend above the body of the stand at its larger end. Therefore the outer end 'of the stopperis considerably heavier than its inner end or portion, always insuring the stopper `automatically returning to a closed position, iilling the channel 10 throughout its entire length after the smaller end of the stopper has been pushed inward and again released. One or more arms 16 are attached to the projecting or outer portion of the stopper 15, and the arms are connected with a cross-bar 17, which constitutes a pivot and is journaled in the bearings 14, as is particularly shown in Fig. 3.

It will be observed that as both the channel and the stopper are tapered longitudinally and are of corresponding dimensions, when the stopper is seated in the channel 10 atight tapering joint will be obtained, rendering it impossible for the ink to escape from the well 11 should the inkstand be upset.

It is not absolutely necessary that a close contact should be made between the wall of the channel 10 and the stopper at a point above the well 11 at the mouth or contracted end of the said channel; and at the smaller or mouth IOO and outward to a point near the center of its inner wall, and fromihe said point downwardly and inwardly to the lower face of the stopper, the front wall of the opening being of practically the same shape. In the front wall of the opening 1S, however, a channel 19"l is made, (shown in Fig. 3,) in which a latch 19 is pivoted at 20, and the outer face of the latch corresponds to the curvature of the bottom portion of the stopper, while the inner face is beveled in an opposite direction to the beveled inner wall of the opening 18.

The bottom end of the latch 19 is adapted, when the stopper is in closed position, to rest upon a shelf or projection 12, formed in the outer wall of the channel 10, as shown in Fig. 1. When a pen is introduced into the top portion of the opening 18, as shown in Fig. 2, the pen, in order that it may pass to the bottom portion of the said opening, will turn the latch 19 upon its pivot, so as to free the said latch from the shelf or projection 12, permitting the stopper to be carried downward and rearward and the pen to gain access to the ink.

It will be observed that an inkstand constructed as above set forth is always corked, except when the ink is being withdrawn from the well by a pen, and not only corked, but locked, so that it cannot be opened unless a pen or a similarly-inserted instrument is introduced into the mouth end of the stopper. The stopper being circular in form, the pen taking ink from the end of the saine is permitted to descend to a point in the ink-well that will enable the pen to take all the ink necessary from said ink-well,while at the same time the pen is not permitted to reach near enough to the bottom to take up any dregs that might settle in said well. Furthermore, the stopper being circular in form and passing through opposite sides of the ink-well, the ink will receive air as the pen descends to the well, which will prevent the ink from foaming, as frequently happens with similar inkstands operated with a spring and having only one opening. On account of the peculiar shape of the stopper a perfect tapering joint is formed at both openings, the said tapering joint being the best form that can be used to prevent leakage of any kind of liquid. The stopper being circular in form and revolving on' its aXiswill not deviate in its course or get out of position, and moving from the smaller to the larger end of the channel 10 it will move easily and will steady the hand holding the pen, since the stopper guides the pen. The stopper can be readily displaced or removed from engagement with the body of the stand for any purpose that may make it desirable.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. An inkstand having a channel formed in its body and connected with the ink-well, and a rocking stopper adapted to move in said channel, the said stopper being self-closing, and arranged when closed to lock the ink in the well of the stand, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. An inkstand provided with a rocking stopper crossing the well and adapted in its closed position to lock the ink in the well, the said stopper being provided with a pocket for the reception of a pen, which pocket at a point in the movement of the stopper is in communication with the ink-well, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. An inkstand provided with a rocking, automatically-locking stopper, the said stopper having a pocket for the reception of the pen, which may be carried to a communication with the ink-well of the stand, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. An inkstand provided with a rocking stopper crossing the ink-well and so arranged that in the closed position of the stopper the ink will be locked in the well, the said stopper being provided with a latch arranged to automatically engage with a keeper when the stopper is in its closed position, the stopper being further provided with an opening for the reception of a pen adjacent to the latch, the latter being released from its keeper on the introduction of the pen into the aforesaid opening, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. An inkstand having a rocking stopper crossing the ink-well and arranged to lock the ink in the same when in a closed position, the stopper passing out from the stand at opposite sides of the center of the same, the remaining portion of the stopper being within the stand, as and for the purpose specified.

6. An inkstand having a rocking stopper crossing the ink-well and arranged to lock the ink in the same when in a closed position, the stopper passing out from the stand atopposite sides of the center of the same, the remaining portion of the stopper being within the stand, the said stopper having a tapering surface connection with the channel in which it moves, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In an inkstand, a rocking stopper cross* ing the ink-well and provided with a pen-receiving opening, which when that portion of the stopper containing the openin g is carried inward the said opening will be in communication with the ink in the ink-well, as and for the purpose specified.

8. In an inkstand, a rocking stopper crossing the ink-well and provided with a pen-receiving opening, which when that portion of the stopper containing the opening is carried inward the said opening will be in communication with the ink in the ink-well, and a latch located at the pen-receiving opening, being released from its keeper by the introduction of a pen into the said opening, as and for the purpose set forth.

9. An inkstand having a segmental channel formed in the body thereof and connected with the ink-well, the said stand being provided with a rocking stopper constructed to IIO move in said channel eind crossing the Well, to the said channel and adapted to move 1o and adapted When in its closed position to therein and crossing the ink-Well, and alocklook the ink in the Well, as and for the puring device for holding said stopper in the pose set forth. closed position, as and for the purpose set 5 lO. An inkstand having its body provided forth.

with a segmental tapering channel opening CHARLES S. KING.

at opposite sides of the center of the body, Witnesses:

the said channel being connected with the ROBERT E. TATE,

ink-Well, a rocking stopper shaped to conform CLARENCE A. KING. 

